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A2 DAILY STORY

World 26 Jun 2026

Why Europe can't air condition its way out of extreme heat

Hundreds of people are dead from Europe’s heatwave, in a continent where air conditioning is not the norm. But while ACs may save lives, they can also make the problem worse.

Image: Daily English Reader / Local generated SVG (Project-owned local asset)

5 min read A2

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Hundreds of people are dead from Europe’s heatwave, in a continent where air conditioning is not the norm. Why Europe can't air condition its way out of extreme heat Ask people in France about the extreme. And deadly heat the continent is going through, and you’ll get some choice phrases. While “ c'est l'enfer sur terre ” (it’s hell on earth) captures the intensity, there’s a more common refrain. “ Je n'ai pas de clim.” (I don’t have air conditioning.) A 2020 ministry-backed report estimates only a quarter of France’s homes have ACs.

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Why Europe can't air condition its way out of extreme heat

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